On their way home from selling
produce and possibly animals at the market, a farmer's
family stops at an inn for refreshments. The inn is
obviously owned by a farmer. He shares a beer with his
traveller guests while the some stay on the wagon where they
are served a refreshment. Donkey also drinks his share of
water. And a sow with her piglets is typically searching the
ground for edibles. In other words: A typical rustic scene,
painted by George Morland. J.R. Smith is a master of
mezzotint engraving. In this black and white version we can
admire the light and shadow effects he so masterfully
commands.

Right margin added. Left margin
supported behind. Margins have some very small repaired
tears, none of them reaching image. There are some other
traces of age and use, none of which are detrimental. We
have acknowledged small blemishes by adjusting our price
accordingly.

Rustic scene, typical for
George Morland. albeit he goes slightly into erotic
happenings. A farm boy catches and embraces the milk maid
from behind. Her welcoming smile is suggesting only flimsy
objection as he reaches unscrupulously for her bosom, while
the stable help is watching the forward approach of his pal
with openly displayed envy. From out the open barn door a
cow observes the scene with little emotion, while two
donkeys couldn't care less and a sow forages the ground
contently.

The print has been mounted on
cardboard. Right margin added. The print had obviously been
framed and had decorated a wall space somewhere for some
time.

By mounting a print on a
cardboard it looses some value. Passing time and the fact
that this print had been exposed to air and light for long
has also diminished its value. Taking this into account we
have discounted the value of this print. Since it is a
genuine rural Morland scene it is, at this reduced price, a
wonderful bargain

One of these extraordinary
rustic scene prints which George Morland was so famous for.
The farmer's wife and their boy are in the stable feeding
three piglets cabbage leaves. The donkey looking on with
interest over her shoulder.

Stunning color. Left, right and
upper margins have been widened beyond the plate mark. A few
minor traces of age and use. None of them disturbing the
beautiful impression.

The first state of this
engraving was done by Visscher ca. 1650. In this second
state Justus Danckerts obviously gave it finishing touches
and engraved his own name in the plate as the artist who
executed these finishing touches.

While Visscher and Danckerts
both belong to family clans who were cartographers and
publishers of maps and atlases in Amsterdam, the scene here
is typical of Berghems pastoral scenes he so much liked
depicting. Berghem's curriculum is not very well documented.
But it seems that he spent time in Italy, an assumption well
founded by the landscapes he painted and drew. The possible
time period most likely for a journey to Italy is expected
to be 1642/43. This would fit the drawing for the etching
here offered, when compared with the life periods of the
artists signatures.

It's a lovely pastoral scene.
Aurora = sunrise = early morning. The departure of a
shepherd party. One of them ready to mount his mule, the
other fixing the hoof of another mule. Wife, a baby in her
arms, watching, a toddler playing, a bigger child helping to
load. The herd, cows, sheep a donkey) is still resting,
waiting for the call.

A classical Berghem etching,
well designed and balanced showing the activities at the
break of another work day of shepherd life.

The print has centerfold. It is
cut to borderline and mounted on heavy woven paper.

The impression is very good.
Due to mounting the print there are some creases along
centerfold and in the sky.
Minor repairs and signs of age.

32,5 x 36,8 cm (ca. 12.8 x
14.5")

$ 360.00

Order Nr.OLDMASTER242708

"A Farm Yard"

Steel engraving by F.J. Havell
after the famous painting by Teniers. Ca 1850.